Favorite Shows to Binge Watch- A Little Something for Everyone

If you love This is Us…try Parenthood
(On Netflix & Hulu)

Long before we all fell in love with the Pearsons, we had the Bravermans. Believe it or not, while I love This is Us, Parenthood is still my all time favorite (it’s still Dave’s, too!). I am actually almost finished watching it for the second time from start to finish. The writing, acting, storylines… everything is so real. Even if you don’t know who the Bravermans are just yet, I promise before it’s all said and done, you will want to be one 😉

If you love a legal drama… try The Good Wife
(On Hulu & Amazon Prime)

This legal drama is on my list of shows to watch a second time, also; it made me a huge fan of Julianna Margulies and a lot of other familiar faces. The cast is diverse but filled with strong personalities and the court cases are fantastic. The show does a fantastic job balancing the personal lives with the courtroom. Not gonna lie though, the ending basically robbed my soul haha.

If you are in the mood for something unexpectedly smart with a strong female lead… try Drop Dead Diva
(On Netflix)

I first watched Drop Dead Diva on a whim; I had seen it recommended on a Facebook thread and was prepared for cheese overload- (had I even heard of this show before?!) I was SO wrong. This is another show I have seen from start to finish twice, falling in love with the characters so hard. The cases are smart (and several are silly) but by the end of the first season, I bet you will want Jane to be your BFF.

If you are looking for something light and quirky… try The Mindy Project
(On Hulu)

I am a HUGE Mindy Kaling fan. HUGE. Like, if there was one celebrity I could meet, it would be her. Hands down. I was thrilled when she brought her show to Fox but after a few seasons, it was cancelled prematurely. Hulu picked it up and it just wrapped its final season a few months ago. If you don’t already, you will totally, 100% fall in love with her and her relatable ways. *Bonus- her books Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? and Why Not Me? are the perfect trip/commute audiobooks- plus, she narrates.

If you need to have something on in the background… try Friends
(On Netflix)

Ok, I know this one isn’t new but as the proclaimed (at least I proclaim it this) “greatest sitcom of all time”, I am so familiar with the show, I know the lines by heart. It is now my go-to when I am doing chores or can’t really pay attention because I know exactly what is going on always. If you haven’t watched in a while, put it on and I bet you won’t be able to turn it off while you’re falling in love with the six New Yorkers all over again.

If you appreciate subtly funny (and painstakingly real)… try The Office
(On Netflix)

When I discovered The Office, I was fresh out of college, looking for my first “big girl” job. Years later, I still relate to these characters; the writing and subtleties (down to the knowing expressions) define my ultimate, favorite kind of comedy. It’s addicting and by the third episode, you will feel like Michael Scott is your boss and all you want to do is go for happy hour with Jim and Pam. PS: even more than Ross and Rachel, The Office produced the best “will they/won’t they”/relationship goals of all time!

If you are looking for a suspenseful thriller… try Dexter
(On Netflix & Hulu w/ Showtime Add-On)

Warning – it’s gory but oh-ma-lord, oh so good! It’s filled with shockers and I haven’t found another suspenseful drama (The Killing, The Fall, etc.) that hold a candle to this masterpiece.

If you only have one weekend… try Emily Owens, M.D.
(On Netflix)

I shared this unexpected, quick binge on a recent Snack Around the Plate- it was only around for one season but I absolutely loved it. It reminds me of Grey’s Anatomy, back in the good ‘ol days and don’t tell her I said this, but I like Emily way more than Meredith 😉

If The Bachelor is on your guilty pleasure list… try Unreal
(On Hulu)

Another Lifetime show, I was surprised how fantastic the acting in this series. Based on a behind-the-scenes look of the producing and directing of a Bachelor-esque show, it has changed the way I watch The Bachelor. Constance Zimmer is brilliant, it’s fast-paced, but be warned- this is definitely some dark stuff. Season 3 is starting in the next few weeks but you can catch the first two beforehand on Hulu.

If young adult drama is your thing, try… One Tree Hill
(On Hulu)

Would you believe my mom actually got me hooked on One Tree Hill?! I loved Dawson’s Creek back in the day but tried it more recently and could not get into it. At all. Even as an adult, this is one of the most addicting shows in this entire list. And yes, this is another I’ve watched through twice. The first few episodes may be slow but stick with it- you will be more than invested in no time.

If you rooted for Walter White in Breaking Bad… try Ozark
(On Netflix)

This is still a new-ish series with only one season available thus far. It’s full of suspense and great acting and after the inaugural season, I can’t wait for the second one to come around. Also fun- it’s filmed nearby and during one of the episodes, I realized he was parked on my family’s property, across the street from where I grew up 😉

If you are wondering what series is worth the hype… try Game of Thrones
(On HBO Go)

I did not think I was going to get into GoT. I’m not into fantasy, medieval, or really any of the things I anticipated from the series. To top it off, when we first started it, I couldn’t understand a word anyone was saying or follow the names and characters. That lasted for all of about an episode and before I knew it, I was picking up on everything and was totally hooked. Tip- turn on subtitles to follow along a little easier at first. This is in the top three of mine and Dave’s favs ever. EVER. Even if you don’t think this is your cup of tea, TRY IT! Warning though- this is probably the most shocking, gory, “adult” show I have ever seen… if you are offended by racy content, I would skip this one.

If you’re willing to go beyond the free stuff, these are worth the purchase:

Friday Night Lights
(On Amazon for Purchase: HERE)

I was lucky enough to catch this when it was still on Netflix. It was another show I had dismissed before giving it a chance and as soon as I started it, I was locked in. The acting has the same “real” vibe as Parenthood and it’s impossible to not connect with the characters. It’s way more than high school and football- it’s filled with life lessons for the entire family. This one quickly became another favorite of my mom 😉

Veronica Mars
(On Amazon for Purchase: HERE)

There were only three seasons (but long seasons) made of Veronica Mars and it kept popping up on lists as the “best CW show ever” so I purchased and gave it a chance. Not only did I love it and the surprise twists and turns, but Dave ended up getting on board too (I totally wasn’t supposed to say that haha). As a bonus, once you’re finished with the last season, there is a movie to cap it off – (primarily crowd-funded by die-hard fans, if that says how good this show is!)

I am always on the hunt to try something new; let me know your favorite shows to binge watch in the comment section below!

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